Summary

  • The Justice Committee takes evidence on the Domestic Abuse Scotland Bill at stage 1

  • The Scottish government gives a statement on the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion

  • A statement on the Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2015 will then be given

  • MSPs debate human trafficking and exploitation

  • Labour MSP Neil Findlay leads this evening's member's debate entitled 'Leading Journalists Criticise the Scottish Government over FOISA'

  1. Background: EIS union warns that teachers could strike over paypublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Teacher with pupils

    Teachers have signalled they could strike unless action is taken to increase pay.

    The EIS, Scotland's largest teaching union, is demanding urgent action from the Scottish government.

    It is to mount a campaign to restore teachers' salaries to the values set out in the McCrone agreement on pay and conditions.

    The Scottish government said it would play its part in the negotiation of teachers' pay and conditions.

    Read more here.

  2. Question on EIS industrial action...published at 14:06 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Scottish Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott asks what the government's response is to EIS members considering supporting industrial action.

  3. Topical questionspublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    MSPs will now ask topical questions.

  4. Conservative Rachael Hamilton takes the oath for the second time this termpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Conservative MSP Rachael HamiltonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Conservative MSP Rachael Hamilton

    Conservative Rachael Hamilton takes the oath for the second time this parliamentary term.

  5. Time for Reflectionpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Hannah Rose Thomas

    Today's time for reflection will be delivered by Hannah Rose Thomas, FRSA, artist, Arabic speaker, and creative director for art projects with refugees to commemorate World Refugee Day with UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency) and Relief International.

  6. Coming up in the chamber this afternoon....published at 13:58 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    members of the Muslim community, greenhouse gases, hands chained and archive fileImage source, BBC / PA / Getty

    First up this afternoon, EIS industrial action and the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme are raised during topical questions.

    This will be followed by a government statement on the Independent Advisory Group on Hate Crime, Prejudice and Community Cohesion.

    The government will then give a statement on the Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2015.

    The Scottish government will then lead this afternoon's debate on human trafficking and exploitation.

    After decision time, Labour MSP Neil Findlay will lead this evening's member's debate on recent criticism of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act.

  7. Postpublished at 13:58 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

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  8. Postpublished at 13:26 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

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  9. This morning the Edinburgh Taxi Trade Children's Outing passes Holyrood .....published at 12:41 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

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  10. Postpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

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  11. The committee moves into private sessionpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Margaret MitchellImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Margaret Mitchell

    The committee moves into private session.

  12. Call for more support for children in houses with domestic abusepublished at 12:33 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Alan McCloskey from Victim Support Scotland says as a society we want to avoid a situation where a child sees abuse and thinks that is acceptable behaviour.

    Mr McCloskey says for a child to recount what they have witnessed is incredibly difficult.

    He says there is further work to be done to support a child where a parent is abusive to a partner.

  13. Men often continue to suffer abuse after leaving the home through children says Ms Waughpublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Alison Waugh from Abused Men in Scotland

    Committee convener Margaret Mitchell says the committee has heard where children are being used to undermine a parent and asks if the witnesses have a view on how this can be addressed,

    Alison Waugh from Abused Men in Scotland says fathers who may leave the home because they are being abused can suffer abuse after this through the children.

    Ms Waugh says men often find themselves having to prove that they are good fathers when they have previously been the main care giver.

    She says this is a major issue for men and that this should be included as one of the behaviours that constitutes coercive control.

    Ms Waugh uses an example where a service user was accused of having resources that he did not have and it took 18 months to resolve.

    She says it has resulted in men taking their own lives.

  14. Broadening the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Billpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Justice CommitteeImage source, bbc

    Lib Dem MSP Liam McArthur asks about similar legislation south of the border.

    Mr McArthur says it seems the legislation in the rest of the UK does broaden out to include issues raised by Mr Barnes.

    The Elder Abuse Scotland representative says he cannot see how including elderly people would weaken the Bill.

    Mr Barnes says evidence from down south may encourage the inclusion of the people he is talking about.

  15. Law failing service users where it takes too long to issue non-harassment orders says Mr Kanepublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Kevin Kane from Victim Support Scotland

    Kevin Kane from Victim Support Scotland says he has seen a case where the law has failed a service user resulting in her being traumatised again and again.

    Mr Kane says this is because the case was passed between the criminal and civil court and that it took too long for the non-harassment order to be issued.

  16. 'We have to be very clear about what is criminal behaviour and what isn't'published at 12:18 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Ronnie Barnes from Action on Elder Abuse Scotland says one of the main criticisms of the Bill will that the state is interfering with family life.

    Mr Barnes says: "We have to be very clear about what is criminal behaviour and what isn't."

    Alison Waugh from Abused Men in Scotland agrees and says non-harassment orders should be considered on an individual basis.

  17. Question on non-harassment orderspublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor

    SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor asks about non-harassment orders in the case of elders and men and how this may complicate things.

    Alison Waugh from Abused Men in Scotland says she is not sure how many men have tried to get non-harassment orders and it is not something that is often offered to men.

  18. It is about finding a means to make it clear elder abuse is unacceptable says Mr Barnespublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Ronnie Barnes from Action on Elder Abuse Scotland quotes the definition of elder abuse: "A single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person".

    Mr Barnes says: "If we don't do it in this Bill we need to do it somewhere else."

    Ronnie Barnes from Action on Elder Abuse ScotlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Ronnie Barnes from Action on Elder Abuse Scotland

    He says other countries have made elder abuse an aggravated offence.

    Mr Barnes says it is about finding a means to make it clear elder abuse is unacceptable.

    He says: "People in their latter years are going to become more vulnerable.

  19. 'If this Bill is publicised it will make more men aware of it'published at 12:09 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Alison Waugh from Abused Men in Scotland

    SNP MSP Rona Mackay says she believes this Bill will raise awareness of all victims of domestic abuse and asks if witnesses agree.

    Alison Waugh from Abused Men in Scotland says "yes I think it might be" and that when she first heard of this Bill she thinks it could help.

    "If this Bill is publicised it will make more men aware of it," she says.

  20. Call for abuse against men awareness raising to help victims come forwardpublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 13 June 2017

    Alan McCloskey from Victim Support ScotlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Alan McCloskey from Victim Support Scotland

    Ronnie Barnes from Action on Elder Abuse Scotland says men are also likely to be victims of domestic abuse contrary to the national profile.

    Alan McCloskey from Victim Support Scotland says his organisation is gender inclusive with 13% of referals coming from men.

    Mr McCloskey says men do struggle to come forward and there is awareness raising that needs to be done.

    There is an opportunity in the Bill to help all victims of abuse to come forward he says.